IT Cost Optimization
Optimizing IT Spend Without Compromising Performance, Security or Business Growth
Services
IT Cost Optimization
A structured, continuous process that identifies and eliminates unnecessary IT spending while maintaining performance, security, ROI visibility, operational resilience and governanceIn today’s evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. WWITCO’s CISO as a Service provides businesses with expert security leadership, strategic guidance, and hands-on implementation of industry-leading security practices. Whether you need to establish a cybersecurity framework, strengthen compliance, or develop an incident response strategy, our experienced professionals are here to protect your organization from emerging threats.
Our IT Cost Optimization Services
• Our Team is led by seasoned CIO, CISO and Digital Transformation Leaders bringing 25+ years of experience across Oil & Gas, Government and large
enterprise environments.
• IT Cost Optimization initiative is grounded in proven execution, real-world delivery and operational accountability — not theoretical frameworks or generic benchmarks.
• We have a demonstrated track record of delivering multi-million-dollar IT cost savings and cost avoidance, while simultaneously improving service quality, governance and cybersecurity maturity across complex, regulated environments in the GCC.
• Global IT spending is accelerating, projected to reach USD 5.7T in 2025 and over USD 6T by 2026, driven by cloud, cybersecurity and digital transformation.
• As spend grows 8–10% annually, CIOs and CFOs face increasing pressure to optimize costs while maintaining performance and innovation.
• Overspend is driven by poor cloud governance, underutilized infrastructure, SaaS sprawl, rising security costs and weak cost accountability.
• Without structured governance, cost reduction efforts risk performance degradation, security gaps and stalled innovation.
Alignment with Vision 2030
• Vision 2030 mandates operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and digital excellence across government and private sectors.
• Ministries and enterprises are expected to optimize spending, reduce redundancy, and invest in technologies with clear ROI.
Rising Technology Investments in the Kingdom
• Saudi Arabia’s ICT market is projected to surpass SAR 85–90 billion by 2026 (CITC/MCIT).
• Large-scale cloud adoption, cybersecurity compliance, and digital transformation initiatives are accelerating costs.
Regulatory & Compliance Expectations
• NCA, SAMA and other regulators require:
• Stronger governance and cost justification for IT initiatives
• Proper license management, asset tracking and risk reduction
• Organizations must show that IT spending aligns with compliance and business value
Economic Diversification & Competitiveness
• Vision 2030 emphasizes: productivity, operational modernization and global competitiveness
• IT cost optimization frees up savings for innovation, AI adoption and improved customer
Challenges Facing Saudi Enterprises Today
• Cloud overspending due to lack of consumption governance
• SaaS duplication and unused licenses
• Underutilized infrastructure and data centers
• Increasing cybersecurity and compliance cost burdens
• Talent shortages driving higher operational costs
Strategic Benefits of Optimizing IT Costs
• Ensures financial sustainability
• Improves technology ROI and governance
• Reduces risk and strengthens cybersecurity posture
• Frees up budget for innovation and transformation investments
• Aligns IT with organizational KPIs and national digital objectives
| Category | Severity | Savings Potential | Area of Overspend |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Support & Outsourced Services | Very High | 25–40% | Overstaffed manpower, inefficient SLAs, scope creep |
| End-User Devices & Hardware Refresh | Very High | 20–35% | Aggressive refresh cycles, weak asset lifecycle controls, lack of asset visibility |
| Cloud Consumption (IaaS / PaaS) | High | 15–30% | Overprovisioned resources, idle workloads, lack of FinOps |
| SaaS, Licensing & Subscriptions | High | 15–25% | Duplicate applications, unused licenses, uncontrolled renewals |
| Vendor Contracts & AMCs | High | 10–25% | Fragmented vendors, weak negotiation leverage, overlapping scope |
| Manual Processes & Low Automation | High | 15–30% | Labor-heavy workflows, high OPEX, slow internal processes |
| Cybersecurity Tools & Platforms | Medium | 5–15% | Overlapping SIEM / EDR / XDR tools, partial deployments |
| Legacy Systems & On-Prem Infrastructure | Medium | 10–20% | Low utilization (<40%), costly support for outdated systems |
| Printing Services | Medium | 10–20% | High-volume printing, unmanaged consumables, no quotas or MPS |
| Telecom & Mobility | Low | 5–10% | Unused SIMs, oversized data packages, limited consumption control |
| Cost Area | Saudi Overspend vs. Optimal | Global Overspend vs. Optimal | Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Support & Outsourced Services | 25–40% Higher | 20–30% Higher | Overstaffed support models, inefficient SLAs, scope creep |
| End-User Devices & Hardware Refresh | 20–35% Higher | 15–25% Higher | Aggressive refresh cycles, weak asset lifecycle controls |
| Cloud Consumption (IaaS / PaaS) | 25–35% Higher | 15–20% Higher | Rapid cloud adoption without FinOps; idle workloads |
| SaaS & Licensing | 30–40% Higher | 20–25% Higher | Duplicate applications, unused licenses |
| Vendor Contracts & AMCs | 20–30% Higher | 10–15% Higher | Fragmented vendors, weak negotiation leverage |
| Low Automation / Manual Processes | 25–40% Higher | 15–25% Higher | Labor-heavy workflows due to low digital maturity |
| Cybersecurity Tools & Platforms | 15–25% Higher | 10–15% Higher | Compliance-driven buying, overlapping platforms |
| Legacy Infrastructure | 15–25% Higher | 10–15% Higher | Delayed modernization and migration |
| Printing Services | 10–20% Higher | 5–10% Higher | High-volume printing culture; limited MPS |
| Telecom & Mobility | 20–25% Higher | 10–15% Higher | Unused SIMs and oversized data packages |
1. Cloud & SaaS Overspend Is Significantly Higher
2. Vendor Fragmentation Is a Major Cost Driver
3. Compliance-Driven Cybersecurity Purchases Increase Waste
4. Automation Gaps Drive Higher Labor Costs
5. Printing & Mobility Overspend Is Unusually High
Our 6-Pillar Optimization Framework
Objective:Optimize technology and infrastructure costs through right-sizing and waste reduction.
Key Areas of Optimization:
• Hardware/Software Obsolescence
• Cloud Cost Right-Sizing & Waste Elimination
• Storage Lifecycle Optimization
• Backup Frequency & Retention Redesign
• Internet & Telecom Services Optimization
• Printing Services Transformation →Managed Print Services (MPS)
| Category | Before (Cost / Units) | After (Cost / Units) | Reduction | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud VMs (Overprovisioned) | 120 | 85 | 35 | SAR 280,000 |
| Storage (Hot Tier) | 90 TB | 55 TB | 35 TB | SAR 210,000 |
| Backup Retention | 60 TB | 40 TB | 20 TB | SAR 120,000 |
| Internet / Telecom Services | SAR 780,000 | SAR 620,000 | SAR 160,000 | SAR 160,000 |
| Printing Services | SAR 540,000 | SAR 450,000 | SAR 90,000 | SAR 90,000 |
Total Annual Savings: SAR 860,000
Objective: Eliminate software waste, reduce licensing costs, and simplify the application landscape.
Key Areas of Optimization:
• SaaS License Usage Analytics & Tier Optimization
• Automatic Identification & Removal of Inactive Users
• Application Portfolio Rationalization
• Decommissioning of Legacy & Duplicate Systems
• Automation to Reduce Manual Workload & Lower OPEX roadmap
| Category | Before (Licenses / Cost) | After (Licenses / Cost) | Reduction | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 | 700 | 520 | 180 | SAR 420,000 |
| Meetings (Zoom, Webex) | 300 | 180 | 120 | SAR 120,000 |
| Development Tools | 250 | 190 | 60 | SAR 90,000 |
| ERP (SAP, Dynamics) | 200 | 160 | 40 | SAR 260,000 |
| HR (SuccessFactors) | 180 | 120 | 60 | SAR 120,000 |
| Security Tools | 170 | 140 | 30 | SAR 60,000 |
Total Annual Savings: SAR 1.07 M
Objective: Optimize cybersecurity spend through consolidation and risk-based alignment.
Key Areas of Optimization:
• Consolidation of Overlapping Cybersecurity Tools
• SIEM Ingestion, Filtering & Retention Optimization
• MSSP Contract Assessment & Renegotiation
• Risk-Based Vulnerability Management
• Identity, Access & Zero Trust Alignment
| Category | Before (Cost / Year) | After (Cost / Year) | Reduction | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Tools (Duplication) | SAR 900,000 | SAR 600,000 | SAR 300,000 | SAR 300,000 |
| SIEM Log Retention | SAR 1,200,000 | SAR 800,000 | SAR 400,000 | SAR 400,000 |
| MSSP / SOC Contract | SAR 1,500,000 | SAR 800,000 | SAR 700,000 | SAR 700,000 |
Total Annual Savings: SAR 1.4 M
• Unified HR / Payroll / Attendance Platform Consolidation
• Digital Onboarding / Offboarding & Auto-Provisioning
• Device Standardization & BYOD Governance
• Access Entitlement Cleanup
• Role-Based Access & License Allocation
| Category | Before | After | Reduction | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR / Attendance / Overtime | SAR 900,000 | SAR 720,000 | SAR 180,000 | SAR 180,000 |
| Device Inventory Cleanup | 600 | 420 | 180 | SAR 270,000 |
| Access Entitlement Licenses | 1,200 | 900 | 300 | SAR 150,000 |
Total Annual Savings: SAR 600,000
• Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) for IT
• Vendor Benchmarking & Contract Renegotiation
• Contract Lifecycle Governance
• FinOps Dashboards & Analytics
• Spend Variance Reporting + Showback/ Chargeback
| Category | Before (Cost / Year) | After (Cost / Year) | Reduction | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor Contracts | SAR 3,500,000 | SAR 2,900,000 | SAR 600,000 | SAR 600,000 |
| Auto-Renewal Wastage | SAR 800,000 | SAR 300,000 | SAR 500,000 | SAR 500,000 |
| Duplicate Tools | SAR 1,000,000 | SAR 650,000 | SAR 350,000 | SAR 350,000 |
Total Annual Savings: SAR 1.45 M
Objective: Optimize workforce and IT operations through outsourcing and efficient resource management.
Key Areas of Optimization
• Outsourcing of Non-Core IT Operations
• Offshore / Nearshore Development, QA & 24×7 Support Models
• SLA-Driven Managed Services
• Overtime Reduction via Workload Balancing & Scheduling Optimization
• Role Rationalization
| Category | Before (Cost / Year) | After (Cost / Year) | Reduction | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helpdesk / Infrastructure Support Outsourcing | SAR 1,800,000 | SAR 1,200,000 | SAR 600,000 | SAR 600,000 |
| Network / Security Operation Center (NOC/SOC) | SAR 1,200,000 | SAR 900,000 | SAR 300,000 | SAR 300,000 |
| Developer / QA (Outsourcing) | SAR 2,400,000 | SAR 1,500,000 | SAR 900,000 | SAR 900,000 |
| Overtime / Leave Balance Costs | SAR 450,000 | SAR 150,000 | SAR 300,000 | SAR 300,000 |
Total Annual Savings: SAR 2.1 M
| Optimization Pillar | Key Focus Areas | Annual Savings (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Pillar 1: Technology & Infrastructure Optimization | Cloud VMs, Storage, Backup, Telecom, Printing | SAR 860,000 |
| Pillar 2: Application & License Optimization | M365, ERP, HR, Dev, Security, Collaboration Tools | SAR 1,070,000 |
| Pillar 3: Cybersecurity Spend Optimization | Tool Duplication, SIEM Retention, MSSP Contracts | SAR 1,400,000 |
| Pillar 4: HR & Digital Workforce Optimization | HR Attendance, Device Cleanup, Access Entitlements | SAR 600,000 |
| Pillar 5: Financial Governance & Budget Control | Vendor Renegotiation, Auto-Renewals, Duplicate Tools | SAR 1,450,000 |
| Pillar 6: Outsourcing & Workforce Optimization | Helpdesk, NOC/SOC, Dev/QA, Overtime | SAR 2,100,000 |
| Total Annual Savings | SAR 7,480,000 | |
Combined Total Savings Across All Pillars: SAR 6M –SAR 8.5M per year
High-impact, low-effort savings initiatives:
• Remove unused SaaS and Microsoft 365 licenses
• Right-size cloud resources
• Filter and reduce non-essential SIEM logs to lower ingestion and storage costs
• Optimize printing services by consolidating devices toward Managed Print Services (MPS)
• Clean up mobile and telecom spending
• Outsource non-critical IT functions
• Archive old or unused storage and migrate to cold / low-cost tiers
Expected Benefit
• Immediate, measurable OPEX reduction within 30–90 days, driven by:
• Lower license and cloud costs
• Reduced SIEM and security tool overhead
• Lower printing, telecom and workforce costs
• No operational disruption or dependency risk
Executive Sponsorship (Mandatory)
• CIO / CFO / COO sponsor with authority
Dedicated Core Team
• IT, Finance, Procurement & HR focal points
• 3–5 hours per week commitment
Data Access & Responsiveness
• Read-only access to cloud, licenses, SIEM & assets
• Data SLA of 1–3 working days
Savings Validation & Governance
• Finance & Audit validation
• Locked baseline & benefits tracking
Change Enablement Support
• Communication for cleanup & transitions
• Alignment that optimization ≠ service degradation
Delayed or Incomplete Savings Realization
• Lack of data prevents accurate baselining and opportunity sizing
• Savings identification becomes assumptions-based rather than fact-based
Loss of Credibility with Finance & Audit
• Savings cannot be validated or signed off
• Benefits tracking becomes disputed or rejected
Project Delays and Delivery Friction
• Slow data access causes repeated rework
• Dependencies across IT, Finance, Procurement and HR stall execution
Reintroduction of Cost Leakage
• Absence of governance allows spend to re-enter
• One-off savings are not sustained
Increased Operational and Risk Exposure
• Uncontrolled changes may impact service stability
• Security and compliance risks increase without alignment
| Program (Duration) | Key Deliverables & Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Quick Cost Diagnostic (6–8 weeks) | 6-pillar assessment, quick wins (30–90 days), cloud/license/cyber/workforce/vendor review, savings roadmap, immediate 5–15% savings identified |
| Cost Optimization & Implementation (3–6 months) | Full 6-pillar optimization, license reclamation, cloud & infrastructure right-sizing, cybersecurity rationalization, workforce & vendor optimization, savings reporting, 10–25% spend reduction |
| Managed Cost Optimization (12 months, renewable) | Continuous monitoring, license & contract governance, budget & leakage alerts, quarterly savings reports, executive dashboards, sustainable savings, improved governance |
| Targeted Cost Optimization (4–8 weeks) | Deep-dive analysis in selected areas, recommendations, business case, roadmap & tracker, optional implementation, fast, targeted savings |
| Performance-Based Savings (6–12 months) | Cost-saving initiative execution, joint savings validation, executive dashboard, periodic reporting, low financial risk, measurable outcomes |
Why Choose WwitCo?
Experienced Team:
Developers with 7+ years of expertise ensure reliable, innovative solutions.
Global Reach:
Operational teams in Europe and Asia bring diverse perspectives to your project.
Proven Track Record:
Success across industries like fintech, eCommerce, and SDN showcases our versatility.
